Center of Biomedical Research Excellence in Pathogen Host Interactions

总体摘要 密西西比州立大学(MSU)的第一阶段科布雷已经催化了生物医学领域的一次变革 研究企业，特别是在科布雷、病原体-宿主相互作用等研究重点领域。在 CVM基础科学部是大多数Cobre研究人员工作的地方，研究文化已经 改变了；20名教职员工中有19名现在拥有竞争激烈的校外资金。此外，美国国立卫生研究院的总 密西西比州立大学的资助额从2012年的约140万美元(就在 第一阶段Cobre开始)，到2016年(第一阶段Cobre的第四年)达到约540万美元。我们的两个第一阶段 调查人员已经达到独立的地位，所有人都获得了相当程度的竞争性 校外资金。事实上，这两名独立的第一阶段调查人员将在年担任领导团队成员 第二阶段，将继续第一阶段和第二阶段调查员之间的关系，以建立职能团队 这将在合作筹资努力方面具有竞争力。继续推进生物医学研究转型 在密歇根州立大学，产生一个自给自足的高水平研究企业是第二阶段Cobre的目标 这个应用程序。我们已经确定了5名优秀的调查人员(其中两名是在第一阶段聘请的)来领导 科布雷二期的研究项目。这些项目包括足够的共同性，以实现协同作用，所有 都是新颖的，有可能开辟新的调查途径。例如，两个项目的重点是 媒介传播疾病，三个项目调查微生物代谢适应在毒力中的作用，以及 有两个项目涉及金黄色葡萄球菌。我们调查人员最积极的特点之一是 第一阶段和第二阶段调查员之间自发开展合作，这已经发生 甚至在第二阶段开始之前。第二阶段的计划就利用了这一点，故意鼓励 第一阶段和第二阶段研究人员在指导和研究方面的持续互动 协作。第二阶段的每个研究人员都确定了一位杰出的科学家，他/她是他/她所在领域的领导者 在研究领域担任外部导师。内部导师(来自密歇根州立大学)将担任这两个项目的顾问 在科学领域和拨款方面。尊敬的外部咨询委员会的所有成员 第一阶段已同意在第二阶段担任同样的角色。利用第一阶段的资金，物理设施和 通过购买主要设备、翻新 4个实验室的暖通空调系统，并增加了6个生物安全柜。密歇根州立大学对中国研究的支持 病原体-宿主的相互作用也从该大学为获得BSL-3的大量投资中得到了说明 模块化实验室(1200平方英尺，有3个独立的实验室)，已经委托使用，应该可以运作 到2018年夏天。主要用户将是我们的Cobre第一阶段调查人员之一。建议的第二期工程 Cobre将允许在第一阶段开始的计划继续进行，并建立资金充足的临界质量 能够进行高影响力研究的调查人员。

Overall Abstract The Phase I COBRE at Mississippi State University (MSU) has catalyzed a transformation in the biomedical research enterprise, particularly in the research focus area of the COBRE, pathogen-host interactions. In the CVM Basic Sciences Department, where most COBRE investigators worked, the research culture has changed; 19 of 20 faculty members now have competitive extramural funding. Furthermore, the total NIH funding amount at Mississippi State University has increased from about $1.4 million in 2012 (just before the Phase I COBRE began) to about $5.4 million in 2016 (year 4 of the Phase I COBRE). Two of our Phase I investigators have graduated to independent status, and all have obtained significant levels of competitive extramural funding. In fact, these two independent Phase I investigators will serve on the Leadership Team in Phase II, which will continue relationships between Phase I and Phase II investigators to build functional teams that will be competitive for collaborative funding efforts. Continuing the transformation of biomedical research at MSU to yield a self-sustaining high level research enterprise is the goal of the Phase II COBRE described in this application. We have identified 5 excellent investigators (two of whom were hired during Phase I) to lead research projects in the Phase II COBRE. The projects include sufficient commonality to allow synergy, and all are novel and have the potential to open new avenues of investigation. For example, two projects focus on vector borne diseases, three projects investigate the role of microbial metabolic adaptations in virulence, and two projects involve Staphylococcus aureus. One of the most positive characteristics of our investigators is the spontaneous development of collaborations between Phase I and Phase II investigators, which has occurred even before the beginning of Phase II. Plans for Phase II take advantage of this by deliberately encouraging continued interactions between Phase I and Phase II investigators both in mentoring and in research collaboration. Each investigator in Phase II has identified a distinguished scientist who is a leader in his/her field of study to serve as an external mentor. Internal mentors (from MSU) will serve as advisors in both scientific areas and in grant writing. All members of the distinguished External Advisory Committee from Phase I have agreed to serve in the same role in Phase II. With funds from Phase I, physical facilities and research infrastructure have been substantially improved by purchase of major equipment, renovation of the HVAC system of 4 labs, and addition of 6 Biological Safety Cabinets. The support of MSU for research in pathogen-host interactions is also illustrated by the university’s substantial investment to acquire a BSL-3 modular lab (1200 square feet with 3 separate labs), which has been commissioned and should be operational by the summer of 2018. A major user will be one of our COBRE Phase I investigators. The proposed Phase II COBRE will allow initiatives begun in Phase I to continue and establish a critical mass of well-funded investigators who can conduct high impact research.